RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif Ė Approximately 600,000 vote-by-mail ballots were started being mailed to voters on Tuesday, October 11 for the general election on November 8. Ballots should arrive in mailboxes by the end of the week.

To be counted, completed ballots must be received at the Registrar of Voters office or any polling place within Riverside County no later than the close of polls on Election Day, or be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than three days after Election Day. Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned through the postal service or deposited in vote-by-mail drop-off boxes at participating city clerksí offices. City clerk drop-off locations and hours of operation can be found on the registrarís website at www.voteinfo.net.

A 24-hour drop box is available outside the main entrance of the registrarís office at 2724 Gateway Drive in Riverside. Vote-by-mail ballots also may be dropped off at any polling place within Riverside County before 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters have until Nov. 1 to request a vote-by-mail ballot by completing the request form on the back of their sample ballot, or by using the application form on the Registrar of Voters website at www.voteinfo.net. The request forms may be returned by mail or by facsimile to (951) 486-7272.

Early voting at the Registrar of Voters office begins Oct. 11 and continues Monday through Friday (excluding county holidays), from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5. The registrarís office will be open to voters on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early voting also will be offered Oct. 28 - 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Galleria at Tyler, 1299 Galleria at Tyler in Riverside; at Westfield Palm Desert, 72-840 Highway 111 in Palm Desert; and the Promenade in Temecula, 40820 Winchester Road.

If you have any questions about your eligibility to vote, please contact the registrarís office at (951) 486-7200.